Knockdown box.



H. B. RUGGLES.

KNOCKDOWN BOX.

APrLlcATlou msu 1111.2, 1914.'

Patented Fell). 13, 1917.

1' Illllllllllllllllllll H Il H I HH HENRY B. RUGGLES, 0F CHICAGO,ILLINOIS.

KNOCKDOWN BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent..

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

Application filed .Tanuary 2, 1914. Serial No. 809,896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. .RUGGLES, citizen of the United States,residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and tate of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Boxes, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to improvements in box construction, and moreespecially to knock-down or collapsible boxes.

The chief objects of the particular improvements embodied in thisapplication, are the economical production of a collapsible box from acombination of fiber or pulp-board and wood members, or from allbrousmaterial; the provision of means whereby the parts may be quicklyvassembled either by the box manufacturer or by the user of the boxes;the provision of simple, inexpensive and efiicient means for connectingthe sides to the ends of the box, and a construction by which a box usedin transporting goods may be converted into a container adapted todisplay the contents.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a preferred embodimentof my invention in the following views Figure 1 is la perspective viewof a box made according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a. view partly in section, and partly in perspective, showingcorresponding corners of the upper and lower portions of a boxconstructed according to my invention;

. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, showing one method of connectingthe side and top walls of my improved box;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing another methodof connecting the side walls and top of my improved box, and'- Fig. 5 isan enlarged sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 2 with adifferent form of cover member designed to protect the transparentmember.

Referring to the details of my invention, thel reference characters 6and 7 represent respectively, the upper and lower frames which form therims of the top and bottom of my improved box, to which frames or rimsare fitted the side wall members 8 which are reinforced where bent toprovide corners, by striips of fabric or other suitable material, as inicated by the reference character 9 in Fig. 1. Fitted within the frame 6`material which, as shown in Fig. 2, is .se-

cured to the under side of the outer frame 6, nails being` used toattach said member 13 to said frame 6.

As shown in Fig. 3, the sheet 13 has its margins bent up at right anglesto form flanges 13b which are adapted to enter kerfs 6b formed in theframe member 6. These kerfs are preferably formed tapering outwardlyfrom their bottoms with the mouth rounded as shown at 6c, Fig. 5, suchan enlarged mouth and taperingwall kerf facilitating the entrance of themargins of the side walls 8. The side walls 8 are preferably formed withapertures 8a along their edges which receive the glue or other adhesivewhich is placed in the kerfs 6b in sufficient quantities so that whenthe margins of the walls 8 are pushed into said kerfs the sealingadhesive substance will flow into the openings 8a and thus form whenset-or hardened efficient anchoring means for holding said side wallssecurely in place relative to the frame members 6 and 7. Similaropenings will be provided in the flanges 13b of the cover member 13 whenthe form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 3 is adopted. The covermember 13 is preferably provided with a score line 13a at the innermargin of the frame member 6, so as to facilitate the severance of aportion of the member lying within the frame when it is desired to open`the box.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have indicated the fr ame members as made fromfibrous material, such as wood pulp, in which case the members includingthe kerfs would be formed in suitable moldsor by dies.

In Fig. 4 I have indicated one method of closing the mouth of the kerf,and at the same time securing the margin of the side wall 8 within thekerf by upsetting or pressing inwardly the outer portion of the wall ofthe frame member 6 which Hanks the kerf 6" on the outer side of theframe.

-When thus deformed there will be a recess 6 at one side of the marginof the memberl 8, and if desired this may contain the sealin adhesiveabove referred to.

Vhile ordinarily the top and bottom frame filling members 13 and 14 willbe in separate sheets secured as shown in' Flgs. 2 or 3, I may form saidmembers integral with the frame members 6 or 7, as indicated at 13, Fig.4. This can readily be done Where the materia-l used in the manufactureof said members is a fibrous pulp adapted to be molded or pressed intoany desired shape.

I prefer to make the intertitting walls of the members 6 and 10, and and11, with broken joints as indicated at 6, 10", and 7, 11a. The members10 are preferably secured to the members 6 by light nails which may beeasily removed when it is desired to disconnect the two frames. Thisoperation is resorted to when the user of the box wishes to convert itinto a display container which Iis readily done by cutting out theportion of the cover 13 within the scored lines 13a, and then replacingthe frame 10 with its transparent member 12. When thus `re placed theframe 10 will rest removably upon the frame 6, the shouldered or brokenjoint serving as an effective support for the inner frame. Then it isdesired to protect the transparent member 12 in the shipment of the boxsupplied with such member, I will use a sheet 'of fiber the margins ofwhich will be bent up at right angles as at 15, Fig. 5, and the samenails which secure the frame 10 to the frame 6 will pass through saidflanges and vhold the member 15 in place until the box reaches the handsof the user when the member 15 may be readily removed by withdrawing'the nails. In such case I may dispense With the cover member 13 on theunder Side of the transparent member 12.

From the construction illustrated and above described, it will beobvious that I have provided a container the members of which can becompletely formed at a central manufacturing plant, can be shipped tolthe user who can assemble the parts quickly and easily with the use ofbut few nails orbrads, and who can lock the top and bottom members tothe sides by merely pouring a suitable adhesive substance into the kerfsformed in the top and bottom frames, and that when the box thusassembled is packed or filled any attempt to open it will require eitherthe severance of t-he top or bottom walls 13, 14, from their respectiveframes or'the fracture of the hard sealing medium used in the kerfs andportions of which, as we have seen, will fill the apertures 8, thusdiscloslng that the package has been tampered Wit It is also obviousthat I may add as many braces or cleats to my improved box as the sizeor uses to which it is to be put would indicate desirable for thepurpose of giving greater strength and rigidity to it. There the covermember 13c is made integral with the frame member 6, I may form thesaine kerf 13 to indicate the cutting line where it is desirable toseparate the central portion Aof saidmember 13 from the marginal pornopart of my invention. The corner strips may be fiexible so that thesides can lie flat when not assembled with the cover inembers, or theymay be of such material as to make a rigid structure at the corners. Inthis connection I have shown the members 9 asa thin flexible materialpasted to the side members 8 and serving merely as fieXible hinges forsaid' members.

Having thus described my inventionvwhat I claim is 1. A containercomposed of top and bottom frames having tapering kerfs therein, sheetsof fibrous material secured to the inner surfaces of said frames, andadapted to form' the top and bottom walls ot' said container, othersheets of fibrous material having perforated margins extending withinthe tapering kerfs and forming the sides of said container, and meansfor sealingsaid perforated margins Within said kerfs.

2. In a container, end Jframes having tapering kerfs therein,collapsible side walls having perforated margins adapted to fit Withinsaid kerfs, and means for securing said margins therein consisting of aflux adapted to iioW into said kertl and pass through said perforations,there to set and harden.

In testimony whereof I affix signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY B. RUGGLES.

i VVitnessesz SIDNEY R. FLn'r-T, M. A.MILoRD.

